Sunday Lunch

 A Sunday in mid October.  It wasn't very warm, only 22oC, with a stiff breeze.  K wanted to BBQ.  He had acquired a couple of octopus tentacles and he had it in his mind it was a day for ouzo and octopus.

The octopus tentacles were hung out to dry alongside my washing

Then on to the electric grill

With that brisk breeze it was not a day to light the coals.

There is still a fire ban in place

From the grill to the plate.

With a few squeezes of lemon juice and a sprinkling of oregano.  The perfect meze for ouzo.

Lemons are rather scarce at the moment.  Our trees have only a few hard green fruit.  At the greengrocer they are 1.70 euros a kilo.

On my daily walk I managed to pick a few green lemons* from neighbouring trees and they had quite a lot of juice.  

The meze was saved.  

After the first course there were grilled chicken wings and greek salad.  And wine

A friend, koumbaros** (the father of Ks, now 30 year old, godson)

stopped on his way home for a quick chat and an ouzo.

Quick chat and an ouzo.  This is Greece.

These 2 grew up together and are both ex-Navy. They have a lot in common.  Once they start talking they find it hard to stop.

4 hours later, after rather a lot of ouzo and wine, they finally decided it was time to break up the party.  

K was a happy camper after these hours of company, conversation, discussion and debate. It's what he loves.

*on today's walk I carried a back pack and some secateurs.  I only managed to cut half a dozen lemons by squeezing my hand through a nasty rusty fence. I need a grandchild, but most of them, including Poppi, have flown the roost. They're in Athens for the start of their tertiary studies.

Of course I could just ask. This neighbour would willingly open the gate for me. But stolen fruit is tastier. Or in this case, juicer. 

**koumbaros.  Bestman, groomsman or woman, godfather or godmother.  A  koumbaros becomes a close member of the family